A deep dive into the Pittsburgh Penguins WHL prospect pool.
Welcome to this edition of the 2026 WHL Prospect Pools. Throughout the 2026 off-season, we will be looking at current or recently graduated WHLers who have been drafted or signed by NHL clubs. Today's organization is the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Penguins boasted five WHL prospects heading into the 2026 NHL Draft and added two more in Liam and Markus Ruck.
Selected in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2026 NHL Draft, Liam Ruck is a premier goal-scoring talent. The winger tore up the WHL during the 2025-26 season, racking up 45 goals and 104 points for the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Drafted the very next day in the second round (39th overall), Markus Ruck reunited with his twin brother to cap off an incredible draft weekend for the family. While Liam brings the finishing touch, Markus is the elite setup man. He led the entire WHL last season with 87 assists and captured the league scoring title with 108 points.
Kindel is one of the crown jewels of Pittsburgh's system. He was an offensive catalyst for the Calgary Hitmen, bringing a well-rounded, high-IQ game that makes him a consistent threat on the ice. He has rapidly ascended the Penguins' depth chart as a cornerstone prospect and appeared in 77 NHL games totalling 35 points.
Kettles is a towering, right-shot defenseman. Standing at 6-foot-5, he utilizes his massive reach and physical presence to shut down the opposition's top forwards while making smart, simple transition plays out of his own zone.
Dach blends size with excellent puck protection skills and raw offensive upside. His developmental trajectory adds fantastic depth to Pittsburgh's stable of future centers.
Drafted in the fifth round (130th overall) in 2025, Miller has been a highly productive player for the Portland Winterhawks. He brings a strong two-way work ethic, great faceoff abilities, and a knack for generating clutch plays in tight situations
Selected in the second round (44th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft, Brunicke is a mobile, two-way defenseman with an exceptional ability to process the game. The 6-foot-3 blueliner split a whirlwind 2025-26 campaign between the WHL's Kamloops Blazers (24 points in 24 games), the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and even saw nine games of NHL action in Pittsburgh.
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